Compare towns
Exeter vs Rye vs Berwick vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Exeter | Rye | Berwick | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
5,611Lowest |
8,175 |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.



